There was change at the top as the season was about to get underway as
both Chris O'Callaghan and Eddie Jones left the club with new coaches
Kevin Hopkins and Mark Jones coming in. The Premier Division had 17
teams in it for the season after the WRU allowed Ebbw Vale to stay up
due to threats of legal action after certain teams allegedly flaunted
the rules of playing too many regional players in their sides in
2003-04.
The Wizards got off to a disappointing start by losing their opening fixture at home to Llandovery, but recovered a week later with an impressive performance at
Newbridge. The mixed run continued, however, with defeats in a
"friendly" at Neath and in the league at Bridgend either side of a home league win over Pontypool.
Successive wins over Swansea (home) and Ebbw Vale (away) were to follow
before a disappointing trip to Rodney Parade. However, all was put into perspective by the tragic death of rising star Sean
Connolly. In his honour the Aberavon players "retired" the number 2 jersey for the rest of the
season. The Wizards got back on track with a home win over Pontypridd, but not before re-living the familiar experience of having a fixture with Cross Keys at Pandy Park rained off.
November was a month to remember - A home win over Cardiff, an away one over Bedwas in which Liam Gadd opened the scoring with a try just seconds after the kick off, a home win over Llanharan, and finally a memorable home victory over Llanelli.
Revenge was gained over Llandovery at Church Bank, then a breathtaking display at home against Newbridge. A hard-fought cup win in the wind and rain at Narberth, but then it all seemed to go horribly wrong. The old
"Caerphilly jinx" struck again at Virginia Park, then Neath came along and dampened our Christmas spirits.
The Wizards progressed in the cup thanks to an emphatic win at Vardre, but league form
went to blazes, with poor performances in the live televised match at Pontypool and at Swansea.
Disappointment at home to Bridgend, and a disappointing defeat at Cardiff. In the midst of all this, however, came the Konica-Minolta Cup 5th Round; all that needs to be said is
"17-13". Ebbw Vale at home was a struggle, but it brought a league victory, incredibly the Wizards’ first since December 11th. An ignominious defeat at Llanharan preceded revenge over Caerphilly, then the Black and Ambers became the second big-name club to exit the Cup at the hands of the Wizards. The Easter Monday match at the Gnoll is without doubt best forgotten!
Disappointment at Carmarthen, a return to form at home to Cross Keys, but then the bitterest of disappointments in the Cup as the Wizards fell at the semi-final hurdle once again. To their credit, however, they bounced back with a home win over Carmarthen Quins,
"The Great Escape" at home to Bedwas, a great result at high-flying Cross Keys, and a narrow last-ditch defeat at Stradey Park.
An impressive display against Pontypridd brought the Wizards their first ever league success at Sardis Road, and their first win at the ground since February
1988, while the Wizards ended the season with an excellent win over
Newport at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
Welsh National League Premier Division
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
PF |
PA |
Tries |
Points |
| 1 |
Neath |
32 |
27 |
0 |
5 |
1208 |
401 |
165 |
81 |
| 2 |
Newport |
32 |
25 |
0 |
7 |
905 |
526 |
128 |
72 * |
| 3 |
Bridgend |
32 |
23 |
0 |
9 |
736 |
475 |
89 |
66 * |
| 4 |
Llanelli |
32 |
20 |
0 |
12 |
784 |
587 |
98 |
60 |
| 5 |
Aberavon |
32 |
19 |
0 |
13 |
782 |
760 |
94 |
57 |
| 6 |
Cross Keys |
32 |
19 |
0 |
13 |
671 |
760 |
77 |
57 |
| 7 |
Carmarthen Quins |
32 |
18 |
1 |
13 |
785 |
579 |
89 |
55 |
| 8 |
Cardiff |
32 |
18 |
0 |
14 |
835 |
659 |
104 |
54 |
| 9 |
Swansea |
32 |
17 |
2 |
13 |
840 |
731 |
95 |
53 |
| 10 |
Pontypridd |
32 |
17 |
1 |
14 |
729 |
610 |
84 |
52 |
| 11 |
Ebbw
Vale |
32 |
14 |
0 |
18 |
644 |
819 |
68 |
39 * |
| 12 |
Pontypool |
32 |
12 |
1 |
19 |
635 |
786 |
68 |
37 |
| 13 |
Bedwas |
32 |
12 |
0 |
20 |
565 |
747 |
70 |
36 |
| 14 |
Llandovery |
32 |
12 |
0 |
20 |
597 |
873 |
55 |
36 |
| 15 |
Caerphilly |
32 |
8 |
0 |
24 |
692 |
945 |
90 |
24 |
| 16 |
Llanharan |
32 |
4 |
1 |
27 |
548 |
1054 |
65 |
13 |
| 17 |
Newbridge |
32 |
4 |
0 |
28 |
539 |
1183 |
60 |
6 ** |
*/** Deducted 3/6 points for not fulfilling fixtures
Club Awards
- Ian Moore (Player of the Year)
- Liam Gadd (Most Promising Player of the Year)
- Andrew & Mair John (Clubman & woman of the Year)
- Ian Moore (Merlin Man of the Match)
- Ian Moore (Players' Player of the Year)
- Richard Carter (Young Player of the Year/Sean Connolly Memorial
Award)
|
